Asia and Africa top global rankings for Christian persecution
Asia has emerged as the world’s most dangerous continent for Christians, with a record 388 million believers subjected to discrimination or persecution in 2025, according to a new report by US-based advocacy group Open Doors.
In its World Watch List 2026, the group revealed that two out of every five Christians in Asia faced hostility over their faith, a far higher share than in Africa (1 in 5) or the global average (1 in 7), underscoring what it described as a worsening regional trend.
Globally, the number of Christians experiencing persecution rose to 388 million during the reporting period from October 2024 to September 2025, up from 380 million a year earlier, marking the highest figure since the annual survey began.
These are the 10 countries that topped Open Doors’ watch list:
- North Korea, due to dictatorial paranoia and post-communist oppression
- Somalia, due to Islamic oppression, clan oppression, organised corruption and crime and dictatorial paranoia
- Yemen, due to clan oppression, Islamic oppression and dictatorial paranoia
- Sudan, due to Islamic oppression, dictatorial paranoia, clan oppression and organised corruption and crime
- Eritrea, due to dictatorial paranoia, denominational protectionism and organised corruption and crime
- Syria, due to Islamic oppression, dictatorial paranoia, clan oppression and organised corruption and crime
- Nigeria, due to ethno-religious hostility, Islamic oppression, dictatorial paranoia and organised corruption and crime
- Pakistan, due to Islamic oppression, dictatorial paranoia, clan oppression and organised corruption and crime
- Libya, due to Islamic oppression, clan oppression and organised corruption and crime
- Iran, due to Islamic oppression, dictatorial paranoia, organised corruption and crime and clan oppression
Why North Korea is No. 1
Among the 15 worst places in the world for Christians, nine belonged to Asia.
North Korea retained its position as the most dangerous country to be a Christian for the 24th consecutive year, with the report citing “dictatorial paranoia” by the ruling regime and the continued imprisonment of tens of thousands of believers in forced labour camps.
Open Doors estimates that between 50,000 and 70,000 Christians are detained in North Korea, with documented cases of brutal interrogation and punishment of those forcibly returned from China.
It also noted the use of church buildings as a propaganda tool to signal tolerance of faith.
“While the church buildings displayed in the capital Pyongyang might suggest a degree of tolerance, this is propaganda. The reality is very different,” the report said.
“Christianity has no place in North Korea, a country where homage must be directed one way only: towards the Kim regime,” it continued.
To help Christians in North Korea, Open Doors called for prayers for Kim Jong-un and his family: “Ask God to change their hearts – knowing that He did the same for the Apostle Paul.”
Nigeria is deadliest country for Christians
Beyond the Korean peninsula, the report highlighted rising pressure across Asia, including tougher restrictions on religious practice in China, sweeping anti-conversion laws in India and persistent violence in Myanmar’s civil war.
China ranked 17th overall, with Open Doors warning of an intensifying crackdown on religious groups as authorities tighten control over worship, organisation and religious expression.
The list of the 15 most hostile countries also included Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, Eritrea, Syria, Nigeria, Pakistan, Libya, Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar and Mali, showing that persecution remains widespread beyond Asia.
The report said conditions in Syria had deteriorated following political upheaval, while Africa continued to account for the highest number of killings despite a lower overall share of persecuted Christians.
During the year covered, at least 4,849 Christians were killed worldwide, 4,712 were detained and more than 3,600 churches and Christian properties were attacked.
Nigeria, ranked seventh overall, remained the deadliest country for Christians, with more than 25,200 believers killed there since 2020, according to the report.“It seems the violence in northern Nigeria is never-ending,” it said. “Ask God to bring peace to this country.”
Open Doors said its findings were based on field research in 100 countries, measuring both violent incidents and pressure on Christians across private, family, community, national and church life.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
